The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is around the corner, and the European giant, Portugal has named a 26-man , approved by coach Fernando Santos.
The 26-man squad includes two veterans, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe, as the team’s captains.
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Portugal is Drawn in Group H with Uruguay, South Korea and Ghana at Qatar 2022,
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After representing his country in each World Cup since 2006, Ronaldo will compete in his fifth World Cup. Ronaldo is also the highest goal scorer of all time in the international arena with 117 goals.
According to Xinhua, two young Benfica players, Antonio Silva and Goncalo Ramos, are making their World Cup debuts.
The injured Liverpool attacker Diogo Jota is replaced by Andre Silva of RB Leipzig.
The lineup includes three players from each of the English Premier League’s Manchester City, Manchester United, and Wolves, the Portuguese Premier League’s Benfica and Porto, and French Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain.
“All the players I have called up come with the hunger to win and make Portugal world champions,” said Santos.
On November 17, Portugal will play a warm-up match with Nigeria in Lisbon.
Portugal will kick off their World Cup campaign against Ghana on November 24.
A Bola “They are going!”#Portugal Antonio Silva (19 years old) is the youngest ever on Portugal’s World Cup squad. Ramos (21 years old) also earned Santos confidence and was selected.
Ramos “I am so proud”
Santos “We could be World Champions”
— PortugueseSoccer.com ⚽️ (@PsoccerCOM) November 11, 2022
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Rui Patricio (Roma/Italy), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton/England);
Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United/England), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City/England), Danilo Pereira (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Pepe (Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City/England), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Nuno
Midfielders: Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton/England), Joao Palhinha (Fulham/England), William Carvalho (Real Betis/Spain), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/England), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Otavio (Porto), Joao Mario (Benfica), Matheus Nunes (Wolverhampton/England), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City/England);
Forwards: Rafael Leao (AC Milan/Italy), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid/Spain), Ricardo Horta (Braga), Goncalo Ramos (Benfica), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United/England), Andre Silva (RB Leipzig/Germany).
(inputs from IANS)
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